Transfer file for side filing



W. W. GRONQUIST TRANSFER FILE FOR SIDE FILING Filed Sept. 5, 1964 FIGJ.

5 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.2.

k 1 l I I l 70 I l 22 g; I 1 l I 1 1 l l l J INVENTOR WesI'ey W. Gronquist Wm WM Oct. 18, 1966 w. w. GRONQUIST 3,279,873

TRANSFER FILE F OR SIDE FILING Filed Sept. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR w esley W. G ron q uist Oct 1966 w. w. GRONQUIST 3,279,873

TRANSFER FILE FOR SIDE FILING Filed Sept. 5, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 \ggg INVENTOR Wesley W. Gronquis "H M/I/IIL Fl 6 W W WW5 United States Patent 3,279,873. TRANSFER FILE FOR SIDE FILING Wesley W. Gronquist, Lincoln, Nebr., assignor to The Ray-Dee Company, Lincoln, Nebr., a corporation of Nebraska Filed Sept. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 394,279 9 Claims. (Cl. 312-259) The present invention relates to a transfer file for side filing, and has for an object to provide a drawerless file case having a completely open side for giving immediate access to the full length and area of the case for receiving files in an upright attitude in which they finally repose in the case, movable horizontally in such upright attitude into the case to facilitate the quick introduction of the files into such case.

Another object of the invention is to enable the case to be made from inexpensive paper board or the like by reinforcing such open side and at the same time to provide a means for maintaining a door in a closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a transfer file for side filing in which the door is hinged at its lower portion to a lower portion of the open side of the case so that the door may swing downward in opening and remain while open within the vertical alignment of a stack of such files to prevent encroachment upon the opening of files in adjacent stacks and also to insure that the files gravitate to an open position so as to remain in the open position and to avoid accidental closing while the file clerk may have both hands occupied in bringing a quantity of the files t0 the previously opened case to be moved thereinto into a filed position.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a filing case of inexpensive material possessed of great strength against sagging even while holding loads run ning into the hundreds of pounds.

It is another object to provide means, preferably magnetic for drawing the door in its final movement to a completely closed position which gives the file a desirable dustproof characteristic.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a storage or transfer file which is easily openable revealing all area thereof at once to permit easy placement and easy removal of the files.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or cor-responding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a cardboard or other blank cut out in one preferred form from which the improved file of the invention may be set up.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a form of reinforcement employed.

FIGURE 3 is also a perspective view showing an additional element of reinforcement at the same time functioning as the armature of a door closing bar or other magnet.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing one step in the setting up of the file.

FIGURE 5 is a similar view showing a following progressive step in a preferred process of setting up the file.

FIGURE 6 shows the substantially complete set-up of the file with the exception that an additional reinforcing bottom is in process of being lowered into place.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing a number of the cases assembled and connected in vertical stack.

FIGURE 8 is a similar view showing a number of the cases connected in both horizontal and vertical stacks.

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view takenon the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8 illustrating a form for connecting the cases in a vertical stack.

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1010 of FIGURE 8 showing a form of connection for joining the files horizontally.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and for the present to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, 15 designates a back wall and 16 the top wall having side flaps 17 and 18. The bottom wall is represented at 19 and also has side flaps 20 and 21. The door 22 is an extension of the bottom fall 19. This bottom wall has a detachable reinforcing bottom wall section 23, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 6.

Adjoining the back wall 15 are outside side walls 24 and 25 from which extend inside side wall flaps 26 and 27, the latter being connected with the outside side Walls 24, 25 by twin spaced parallel crease or fold lines 28, 29 resulting in the formation of flat crease hinge sections 30, 31.

In the longitudinal edges of the members 26 and 27 are clearance cutouts 32, 33 and 34, 35.

In the outside side wall 24 and its flap 26 are side fastener holes 36 and 37 which become aligning when the blank is set up. Similarly in the outside side wall 25 and its flap 27 are side fastener holes 38 and 39 adapted to align when the flaps are folded.

In the longitudinal edges of the side flaps 17 and 20 are side fastener half holes 40 and 41 adapted to register with the aligning side fastener holes 36 and 37, and in the side flaps 18 and 21 are side fastener half holes 42 and 43 adapted to register together and align with the holes 38 and 39 in the set-up position of the blank.

The bottom wall 19 in corner portions thereof is provided with bottom wall fastener holes 44 and 45 and in a similar manner the top wall is provided at corner portions thereof with fastener holes 46 and 47.

The reinforcing frame is preferably of metal, for instance, fiat steel, and is shown more particularly in FIG- URE 2 to comprise a flat bottom bar 48, a top flat bar 49, flat side bars 50 and 51 assembled together in a substantially rectangular formation of a size approximating that of the open side of the completed file case. The ends of the bar metal may be joined in a union sleeve 52.

The side members 50 and 51 of the reinforcing frame are provided with side fastener holes 53 and 54 while the bottom bar 48 is formed with bottom fastener holes 55 and the top bar 49 is pierced with top fastener holes 56. The union sleeve 52 in FIGURE 2 is exaggerated in size for clearance but in practice will be thin so as to substantially avoid bulk which would interfere with the proper placement on the top bar 49 of a channel bar 57 having downwardly directed spaced longitudinal flanges 58 straddling the top bar 49 of the reinforcing frame. This channel bar 57 has openings 59 adapted to register vertically with the holes 56 in the top frame bar 49.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 10, a form of fastening is shown for connecting two cases together in horizontal assembly. The fastener is made up of two complemental elements, one being for instance an internally threaded sleeve 60 having an outstanding flange 61 and in this sleeve is received an externally threaded bolt 62 having a bolt head 63. When put in place in the manner indicated in FIGURE 10, the flange at 61 will abut against an inside flap 26 of one of the cases while the bolt or screw head 23 will abut against the inside flap 27 of the adjoining case, the intermediate members of the case being thus bound and held together by such fastener. In so doing the fastener goes through also the holes.53 and 54 of the metal reinforcing frame.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 9, a similar fastening is shown for connecting the cases in a vertical sewers stack. The fastening is shown to comprise an internally threaded sleeve 64 having a flange 65 with which cooperates an externally threaded bolt 66 having bolt head 67. Appropriate packing may also be introduced as indicated in this FIGURE 9.

The fastener is shown to extend through reinforcing frame bars 48 and 49 of the respective file cases and to clamp top wall 16 and bottom Wall 19 of the respective cases together.

In this FIGURE 9 is shown a bar magnet 68 held by adhesive 69 or otherwise to the inside surface of the door 22 at an upper portion thereof in position to cooperate with the outer flange 58 of the channel member 57 which will be of magnetic material so that the door will be biased to a closing position against such flange, as indicated in FIGURE 9.

A finger hole 70 may be provided in an upper central portion of each door 22. to facilitate the pulling of the door to open position and at the same time avoid any projections which might involve obstructions.

In the use of the device, the blank of FIGURE 1 is set up in the manner which will be clearly understood from FIGURES 4 and 5.

In FIGURE 4 the channel bar 57 is shown as having been assembled to the top bar 49 of the reinforcing frame with the holes 56 and 59 registering in a vertical sense.

The bottom Wall is defined by crease lines 71 and 72. The crease line 71 forms the hinge joint at the lower edge of the door by which the door is moved through open and closed positions. The side flaps Z and 21 are folded upwardly on crease lines 73 and 74 to vertical positions and meet along their free longitudinal edges the free longitudinal edges of the mating side flaps 17 and 18 which are folded on crease lines 75 and 76 about the top wall 16, said top wall being itself folded on crease line 77 so that the longitudinal edges of the flaps 17 and 18 come down to meet the free longitudinal edges of the bottom wall sideflaps 2t) and 21. In doing so the half round holes 40 and 41 come together forming a completely round hole eventually registering with holes 36 and 37.

In like manner half holes 42 and 43 of the side flaps 18 and 21 are brought into registry With one another forming a round hole in alignment with holes 38 and 39.

As shown more particularly in FIGURES 4 and 5, the outside side walls 24 and 25 are folded about crease lines 78 and 79 to cause these outside side walls 24 and 25 to close against the aligned flaps 17, 20' at one side and the aligned flaps 18 and 21 at the other side. Meantime the reinforcing frame plus the channel bar 57 is set in place, as shown in FIGURE 5, and the inside side wall flaps 26 and 27 are folded inwardly through the opening in the reinforcing frame and into the interior of the case being formed and finally to positions against the internal surfaces of the side flaps 17, 20 and 18, 21.

In doing so the inside side wall flaps 26 and 27 hinge about the crease lines 28 and 29 which form between them flat hinge surfaces 30, 31 of a width substantially conforming to that of the side bars 50 and 51 of the reinforcing frame plus the flap thickness of the side flaps 17, 20 and 18, 21. The clearance cutouts 32, 33, 34 and 35 will take up positions about the flanges 58 of the channel bar 57 and the bottom bar 48 of the reinforcing frame, thus enabling the parts to fit smoothly and tightly together without bulges.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 1, the bottom Wall may conveniently and economically be stamped out of cardboard or other suitable material along with the entire blank having connection originally with the door 22 and being subsequently severed therefrom along the line 80, as indicated in FIGURE 1, the dotted lines 81 indicating that after severing this bottom wall 23 has been shifted over to the dotted line position, indicating that it is a completely severed piece of the cardboard or other material.

Referring to FIGURE 6, after assembly of the various parts of the case the detachable reinforcing bottom 23 may be introduced, the same being of a width practically that of the bottom wall I9 minus the width of the bottom flat bar 48 of the reinforcing frame so that the forward edge of the detachable bottom member 23 may be pushed down into the same horizontal plane with the bottom bar 48, the two parts forming a smooth bottom wall for receiving and supporting the tiles, as indicated in FIGURES 7 and 8.

Suitable means may be supplied to the case to maintain the files in a vertical position such as various types of follower members.

The fastenings of FIGURES 9 and 10 may then be inserted in place where it is desired to have more than one of the filing cases and to have the same optionally arranged in vertical and/ or horizontal stacks.

In these FIGURES 7 and 8 a convenience of use of the improved file of this invention is illustrated. The door of any case may be opened by simply inserting a finger in the hole 7 t) and exerting a slight pull, whereupon the magnetic attraction will be overcome and the door 22 moved down assisted by gravity to a position which will be substantially horizontal or preferably slightly below the horizontal position, this position being normally maintained by the stiifness of the material, it being understood that the crease hinge connecting the door 22 with the bottom 19, which connection is rein-forced by the bottom fiat bar 48 of the reinforcing frame, tends to prevent the door 22 which is of light material from dropping down to too low a position. In this position the hand may be easily placed beneath the door 22 and without effort the door may be raised to a position approaching closing. The final closing movement will be accomplished by the magnet attracted to its armature.

Although I have disclosed herein the best forms of the invention known to me at this time, I reserve the right to all such modifications and changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: V

1. A transfer file for side filing comprising (a) a file case having (b) an open side giving immediate access to the full length of the case for receiving in a horizontal direction the files presented edgewise while held in an upright attitude in which the files finally repose in the case,

(c) a rigid open reinforcing open side,

((1) a single side door of the area of the full side of the case openable to at once expose sidewise the complete area of the case,

(e) means for hinging the side door at its lower edge portion to the lower portion of the case at the open side for biasing by gravity the door to a low position insuring without attention on the part of the file clerk the continued maintenance of an open position of the case while both hands may be fully engaged in filing operations,

(f) means for maintaining the door shut when moved to closed position, and

(g) means associated with the reinforcing frame at the upper portion thereof projecting into the path of the door at its closed position for acting as a door jarnb.

2. A transfer file for side filing as claimed in claim 1 in which said reinforcing frame is an open frame conforming substantially to the form and dimensions of the open side, and in which said last-named means comprises (h) a bar associated with the upper portion of said frame positioned relatively to the upper free end portion of the door for encounter by the door as a door jamb and having magnetic armature properties, and v (i) at least one magnet carried by the upper inner edge portion of the door adapted to be attracted to said magnetic bar to draw and hold the door closed.

frame surrounding the 3. A transfer file for side filing as claimed in claim 2 in which said magnetic bar has (j) a dependent flange against which said magnet is adapted to abut.

4. A transfer file for side filing as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for maintaining the door shut comprises (h) a magnetic couple including (i) a magnet and (j) an armature,

(k) one member of the couple attached to the door near its upper free end,

(1) the other member of the couple supported by the frame.

5. A transfer file for side filing as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for maintaining the door shut comprises (h) a magnetic armature associated with the reinforcing frame, and

(i) at least one magnet carried by the door in position to bring its magnetic field into operative proximity to the armature as the door approaches closed position.

6. A transfer file for side filing as claimed in claim 1,

in which the filing case comprises (h) a bottom wall having upstanding side flaps,

(i) a back wall crease hinged to the bottom wall and upstanding from the bottom wall,

(j) a top wall crease hinged to the back wall and foldable over about said back wall,

(k) side flaps on the top wall adapted to be bent down to meet the side flaps of the bottom wall,

(1) outside side walls bent forwardly from the back wall exteriorly of the flaps,

(m) inside side wall flaps extending outwardly of the outside side walls and foldable forwardly and inwardly of the case and substantially against the inner surfaces of the bottom and top wall side flaps, said reinforcing frame having (n) side bars included within said inside side wall flaps,

(0) said side door crease hinged to the bottom wall an openable in a downward swinging movement.

7. A transfer file for side filing as claimed in claim 1,

in which said door has (h) an unobstructed plain external surface, and

(i) means in the door whereby it may be engaged and pulled to open position.

8. A transfer file for side filing comprising (a) a file case having (b) an open side giving immediate access to the full length and height of the case for receiving in a substantially horizontal direction the files presented edgewise while held in an upright attitude in which position the files finally repose in the case,

(0) a substantially rigid open reinforcing frame extending all about the open side,

(d) a side door for the case opening downwardly and hinged to a lower portion of the case adjacent the frame, and

(e) a door jamb supported by an upper portion of the frame for receiving thereagainst the upper portion of. the door in closing.

9. For use with rectangular file jackets, a transfer file for side filing comprising (a) vertically spaced bottom and top walls, transverse end walls attached to end portions of said bottom and top walls,

(b) a single side wall enclosing the case at one side,

(c) said opposite side being entirely open for giving immediate access to the full length of the case for receiving in a horizontal direction the file jackets presented edge-wise while held in an upright attitude in which the file jackets finally repose in the case,

(d) the internal space of the case being originally interiorly completely void,

(e) a single side door of the area of the full open side of the case openable to at once expose sidewise the complete internal area of the case, said side door (f) hinged at its lower longitudinal edge to the case at its open side whereby the door will be normally biased by gravity to a lower open position insuring without attention on the part of the file clerk the continued maintenance of an open position of the case while both hands may be fully engaged in filing operations,

(g) means for automatically holding the door shut when moved to the closed position, and

(h) a substantially rigid open frame secured to the file at the open side thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, F. DOMOTOR,

Assistant Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,279,873 October 18, 1966 Wesley W. Gronq uist It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 3 and 4, for "The Ray-Dee Company" read The Kay-Dee Company Signed and sealed this 13th day of August 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

9. FOR USE WITH RECTANGULAR FILE JACKETS, A TRANSFER FILE FOR SIDE FILING COMPRISING (A) VERTICALLY SPACED BOTTOM AND TOP WALLS, TRANSVERSE END WALLS ATTACHED TO END PORTIONS OF SAID BOTTOM AND TOP WALLS, (B) A SINGLE SIDE WALL ENCLOSING THE CASE AT ONE SIDE, (C) SAID OPPOSITE SIDE BEING ENTIRELY OPEN FOR GIVING IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE FULL LENGTH OF THE CASE FOR RECEIVING IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION THE FILE JACKETS PRESENTED EDGE-WISE WHILE HELD IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE IN WHICH THE FILE JACKETS FINALLY REPOSE IN THE CASE, (D) THE INTERNAL SPACE OF THE CASE BEING ORIGINALLY INTERIORLY COMPLETELY VOID, (E) A SINGLE SIDE DOOR OF THE AREA OF THE FULL OPEN SIDE OF THE CASE OPENABLE TO AT ONCE EXPOSE SIDEWISE THE COMPLETE INTERNAL AREA OF THE CASE, SAID SIDE DOOR (F) HINGED AT ITS LOWER LONGITUDINAL EDGE TO THE CASE AT ITS OPEN SIDE WHEREBY THE DOOR WILL BE NORMALLY BIASED BY GRAVITY TO A LOWER OPEN POSITION INSURING WITHOUT ATTENTION ON THE PART OF THE FILE CLERK THE CONTINUED MAINTENANCE OF AN OPEN POSITION OF THE CASE WHOLE BOTH HANDS MAY BE FULLY ENGAGED IN FILING OPERATIONS, (G) MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY HOLDING THE DOOR SHUT WHEN MOVED TO THE CLOSED POSITION, AND (H) A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID OPEN FRAME SECURED TO THE FILE AT THE OPEN SIDE THEREOF. 